it sees how difficult it is to ask for help. how love is not enough to miraculously fix everything. but this book says: let others in, and you can help each other while working on yourself. that life is horribly terrifying but you can find safety with each other. There Is A Light is exemplary in its portrayal of mental illness, and it is gorgeous in its language, character development, and love story. It made me so happy, and it gave me so much hope for being happy, and I might just carry it everywhere with me.

Edit: I wrote the above after reading the first complete draft, when it was still in its awkward teenager stage. This update is my third read—the first time reading the finished, published version—and it’s still all true. But now the gangly promising teenager has grown into their own, and it’s so incredibly lovely. The representation of depression. It's extremely accurate and kind of unsettling (in a good way). In some of Jude's parts, it was like looking in a mirror. Weak Heart isn’t a weak book. It is a strong self published debut. The sheer quality of the story is impressive as Gilmartin writes a neat, emotional, and well structured plot of a book. The story itself is unapologetically queer and shows a deep level of tenderness in representing the vulnerability and love shared between multiple characters. It is not just a fantasy story with a bit of mystery following queer characters, it is a story with heart and depth. you can’t say you’re living for others and simultaneously hide from life and hope it won’t find you. other people can be your push, but you have to do it yourself. you have to face your life and take control of it. you have to try.

About this book

While the mystery and setting of Weak Heart lend themselves to the creepily atmospheric mood, the author manages to seamlessly weave in the perfect amount of humor, romance, and found family. The characters are fully developed and colorful, and I missed each and every one of them the second I was finished. It all pulls together to form a wonderful read that’s nearly impossible to put down. it is mentioned that Jude got a lamination machine and had been leaving signs for Jamie all over the house. It would've been cool to see this slowly become a tradition, and to see Jamie's initial reactions. With everything in this book, it still has this overarching sense of hope. Its never too late to start trying and keep trying. There is a light. Remember that. Isla is a selkie who has only recently taken human form. She’s cold, hungry, miserable...and dead set on discovering what has happened to her best friend. She knows that Thomas could help solve the mystery, if only she could convince him to join her. Unfortunately, Thomas has absolutely no intention of doing so...until she tells him that the person she's seeking might have a cure for his visions. Jamie and Billie always try to convince Jude to watch TV with them, and make him sit in the middle and use him as a foot rest, but again: we don't see this happening

today i’ve been the kind of person i want to be. the kind of person i think i can be. like, maybe if i can do things like this—be useful, be good, help others, maybe it’ll help me stop treating everything like it’s temporary.” also, i loved how cohesive the plot is, how even the smallest details come together in the end to make sense. my only complaint would be that i wish there was more emotional resolution towards the end, more apologies, more feelings, a little epilogue giving us a reassuring glimpse of the future. but i'm being greedy, i just wanted to spend more time with these characters. As a selkie, Isla has always wanted to stay in the sea and doesn’t really understand the impulse that her mother and brother have had to give their pelt away and stay on land for love. All she needs is her herd and her yearly day with Kit. However, things may start to shift when she meets Tanis, who is very hot and also a powerful shapeshifter, oh and runs the local pub that has amazing food. Their relationship was truly perfect and everything I wanted from it and it brought a little bit of light to the overall dreariness of the story.

This item contains adult content

The way this book show representations of LGBT I found so lovely, it never felt like one-note. They have a purpose and are all beautiful souls. Although I feel like these are human emotions and there is something for everyone to relate to. But that’s what you get when you make complex characters with complex issues. Absolutely brilliantly written and I can not express how much I admire the craft and skill behind this.

Complex issues and emotions were dealt with so tactfully and gently, this was like a book for everyone , there is almost a part that everyone can relate to. These issues are brought up in the characters that you can understand how it goes on in their heads and you can understand it, and you can feel what the characters feel.I randomly found this book a while ago, and then learned that the author was a very popular Snowbaz fanfic writer whose fanfictions I've enjoyed for YEARS (I've probably read all of her fanfics, I'm being deadass). So I wasn't surprised at all that I enjoyed this book! Julian smiles. A real one. I think I get what he meant about kind cheeks when he smiles. I don't think I have them, but he definitely does. Kind cheeks and mussed up hair and messy beauty, clutching a chipped mug and trying to look happy. There Is A Light is a heartwarming story set in Edinburgh following two very broken men in the 1980s and how they find each other and eventually, dare to open up to each other. I love second chance romances and this was certainly an emotional ride with second, third and fourth chances…